A/HRC/48/28 General.183 In April 2020, special procedures mandate holders had raised concern about the travel ban which prevented him from leaving the OPT, following his engagement with the UN184 (ISR 1/2020) where he called on States to support the UN database and the work of OHCHR in this regard (A/HRC/RES/31/36).185 On 15 June 2020, the Government186 stated that the travel ban against Mr. Zeyad was issued for security reasons. It was reported to OHCHR that Mr. Zeyad’s petition to the Jerusalem District Court to lift the travel ban was heard on 31 May 2020 and later rejected. The Court reportedly accepted the evidence submitted by the Israeli Internal Security Agency, alleging that Mr. Zeyad poses a “security threat.” Additional petitions were filed in November 2020, which were dismissed. The Jerusalem District Court held a hearing on the case on 6 April 2021, but as of May 2021 had not issued a decision. 77. On 17 August 2021, the Government responded to the note verbale sent in connection to the present report. Regarding the situation of Mr. Issa Amro, the Government shared information on his sentencing and charges, currently under appeal, and stated that his organization “Youth against Settlements” acts as a proxy for the terror organization Hamas in the West Bank. Regarding the travel ban against Mr. Abu Zeyad, the Government stated that this was issued for security reasons because he is currently involved in Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) activity, but that as of August 2021 a new request for travel by Mr. Abu Zeyad would be allowed should he commit in writing to refrain from terror activities, which is still pending. 15. Kuwait 78. The case of international lawyers working for law firms Omnia Strategy, Crowell & Moring, Doughty Street Chambers and 4 New Square was included in the 2020 report of the Secretary-General 187 on allegations of threats and stigmatization following their engagement with the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention and the World Bank’s International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes in their representation of the case of Ms. Maria Lazareva (KWT 4/2019).188 79. In its 25 November 2020 Opinion, the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention noted from the individual communication submitted to it that the legal team had been threatened by the Kuwait Port Authority for filing complaints to the UN special procedures on the case of Ms. Lazareva (A/HRC/WGAD/2020/60, paras. 48–50). According to the source of the communication, the press release of the Port Authority equated the work of the legal team, including its legitimate engagement with UN special procedures, with “treason” and “warned” of the consequences for working on her case. The Government contested these allegations, recalling the principle of freedom of the press guaranteed in the Constitution. It also contested the veracity of the statements made by the source of the communication, which they noted had misrepresented the facts (para. 72). On the alleged reprisals against the legal team, the Working Group noted that it was not convinced by the Government’s response as it did not provide evidence (para. 95). 80. The Working Group referred the matter to the Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers for further consideration and appropriate action (para.106). On 1 February 2021, the Special Rapporteur addressed the alleged intimidation and reprisals against the legal team, expressing concern at the reported systematic intimidation and harassment faced as a result of the legitimate exercise of their professional functions (KWT 1/2021). On 1 February and 22 March 2021, the Government responded, rejecting the allegations that Ms. Lazareva’s legal team may be exposed to reprisals because of it resorting to international bodies. It contended that this was confirmed by the lawyers’ repeated visits 183 184 185 186 187 188 A/HRC/45/36, para. 79 and Annex I, paras. 62–63. https://www.un.org/unispal/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Briefing-by-Amnesty-InternationalNotes.pdf. See A/HRC/43/71. https://spcommreports.ohchr.org/TMResultsBase/DownLoadFile?gId=35341. A/HRC/45/36, para. 82 and Annex I paras. 66–67. https://spcommreports.ohchr.org/TMResultsBase/DownLoadFile?gId=34926. 65